Toy airplane



June 4, 194 E. B. CAVANAUGH 2,491,459

TOY AIRPLANE Filed May 12, 1944 INVENTOR; w l'dwaz'dflibvanmgk,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 4, 1946 UNll'ED STATES PATENTFOFFICE TOY AIRPLANE Edward B. Cavanaugh, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application May 12, 1944, Serial No. 535,258

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to air-borne toys and, more particularly, to the species generally known as toy aeroor airplanes of thetype adapted for flight and control by aid of a rod and line.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy of the above indicated type, embodying structural refinement and features which conduce to better, and more accurate control'of said toy during flight thereof.

Another object i the provision of a toy airplane which can be easily assembled, and adjusted for stabilization prior to use; while it is just as readily dis-assembled for storage.

A further object is to provide a toy airplane devoid of any propeller, and which can be freely manipulated for amusement purposes, with a closer approximation to actual flying behavior than previously attainable with similar toys.

A still further aim is to provide an improved toy airplane adapted to accomplish all of the foregoing objects, as well as others, in a manner which is simple and economical in construction, while being instructive and entertaining in use. Accordingly, while the instant disclosure exem plifles an embodiment of the invention, at present considered preferable, it is to be understood that changes and modifications are contemplated insofar as is permissible within the scope of the concluding claims.

In the sheet of drawings herewith:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy airplane embodying the present improvements, as well as the manner of bringing the plane down to a safe landing.

Fig. 2 is a larger scale perspective view of the improved toy airplane with parts broken away and in section for a clearer illustration of details.

Fig. 3 is an underside plan View of the toy airplane.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken approximately as indicated by the angled-arrows in Figs. 2 and 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rudder.

In describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated, specific term will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; and such term being intended to embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for an analogous purpose.

The improved toy airplane of this invention comprises a body-portion or unitary fuselage, comprehensively designated by the reference character '6, conveniently moulded or shaped to simulate a known type of fighter plane such as a while it is suitably marked at l and 8, for attractivenes's. Longitudinally of the lower part of the fuselage there is formed a transverse cut-outer slot 9, having its rear end open, thereby defining a lengthwise tapering-section tong l0, f0r.reception and grip-restraint of the wing l I preferably of thin sheet wood, said wing having a substantially-straight forward edge 12, rounded tips l3, and reversely-inclined'rear edges l4 merging 'by arcs l5 to the sides of said fuselage as clearly shown, more particularly, in Fig. 2. From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the free end of the ton Iii impinges the underside of the wing II forwardly in respect to the rearedges N3 of the latter, and thereby aids to frictionally hold said wing in place. lnaddition the slot 9 affords re-- tentive reception for the landing gear, conveniently made from piano wire to define a some what rectangular U-shaped medial section It for disposition between the bottom surface of the wing H and the upper face of the tong Ill and within the side confines of said tong; whereas said U-shaped portion serves to flex the wing ll into frictional contact with the upper face of the slot 9. The legs ll of the landing gear are, respectively, laterally extended and downwardly angled at l8, with their terminal portions outwardly turned to afford journals IQ, for freely rotative wheels 20.

In order that the wing I l and landing gear portion l5 may be anchored in place, brads 2| are inserted in holes 22, provided for the purpose, through the tong l 0 and aligned holes in the bottom of the body portion 6, as readily understood by those conversant with the art; or, said holes may be provided in the tong l0, only, and the brads 2| driven through the wing H into the body portion 6, in an obvious manner (see Fig. 3).

The stabilizer 23 is, preferably, of the shape best shown in Fig. 3; that is to say, it is formed of thin sheet-material similar to that of the win II, with rearwardly tapered leading-edges 24,

rounded tips 25, somewhat arcual rear edges 26, This stabilizer 23 is and a central cut-out 21. made a force-fit in a horizontal slit 2!! provided for its reception in the tail portion of the fuselage '6; and care should be exercised in seeing that it be properly centralized when assembled in the plane.

The rudder 29 is also made of corresponding material to that of the wing I l and stabilizer 23, while it is contoured more or less in conformity with known practice, and said rudder is mad a force-fit in a vertical slit 3!! in the tail portion of the fuselage 6. Furthermore the rudder 29 is preferably cut-out at 3 I, Fig. 5, so that it may be also engaged in a vertical slit 32 in the rear end 33 of the fuselage 6, whereby it serves to lock the stabilizer 23 in position, against lateral displacement.

Having assembled the toy airplane it should then be tested for balance by placing the finger tips under the wing Ii about one-third of its width from the forward edges i2, and by raising the same slightly, if the toy noses down sharply, said wing should be moved forward until balance is noted; or, vice versa, if the toy noses up.

In order to fly the airplane one end of a line 34 is passed through an eyelet 35 suitably located near the rounded tip l3 of the starboard wing portion-for example-and knotted therebelow, said line having its other end attached to a swivel 36 at the extremity of a suitable pole, such as a conventional fishing-rod 31. Or, the swivel 35 may be attached to one end of a bamboo pole between siX and eight feet long.

To operate the toy airplane, as described and shown, it is preferable to have someone launch said airplane by grasping one wing-tip l3 between the fingers, and when the operator 38 is ready to fiy for the latter to give the signal for launching by swinging the plane in the direction the operator intends to circle the rod or pole 31. The operator 38 should then immediately swing the pole 31 just ahead of the plane and continue -to turn until he feels the pull of the plane, and then after several turns raise the pole 31, and at the same time, increase the speed when said plane will zoom up. On lowering the pole 31 the plane will dive, while the line 34 should be kept taut, or the plane will pass out of control. To effect a landing the plane should be lowered to within about three feet from the ground and the speed of turning gradually decreased until the wheels 20 touch the surface of the ground, when it can be taxied gracefully to a stop. Spot landing, formation flying and speedflying can be readily acquired with a little prac- 4 tice and skilful handling of the toy; while balloon busting can be easily acquired by simply attaching a pin to the nose 39 of the plane, in an obvious manner, anchoring a balloon or balloons at a height of about three feet above round and nose-diving the plane down at it, or them.

From the foregoing, it is thought, the merits and attractiveness of the improved toy airplane will be fully appreciated without further elaboration herein; and that it fully justifies the objects stated in the prefatory paragraphs of this specification.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a toy airplane, the combination of a unitary fuselage having in its lower part an openended tranverse cut-out defining a lengthwise tapering-section gripping tong; a sheet-material main wing engaged across said cut-out with its medial rear portion restrained against lateral movement by the free end of the gripping tong; a similar-material stabilizer with an associated rudder respectively held in a transverse slit in the upper region, and a vertical slit in the tail portion of the fuselage, and the rudder serving to lock the stabilizer in position; a wheeled landing-gear having a medial U-shaped portion in the transverse cut-out below the forward portion of the main win said shaped portion being effective to flex the wing into frictional contact with the confronting upper face of the cut-out aforesaid; means whereby the main wing and landing gear are jointly anchored against lateral displacement relative to the fuselage; and connectable means whereby flying of the toy airplane is controllable.

2. A toy airplane as defined in claim 1 wherein the wheeled landing-gear U-shaped portion is approximately rectangular; wherein the paralleling sides of said portion, are opposingly extended and shaped to form dependent legs; and wherein the extremities of said legs are outwardly turned to provide aligned journals for the landing wheels.

EDWARD B. CAVANAUGH. 

